LG Electronics(LG), a leader in consumer electronics and mobile communications, announced that it will launch the world's first dual-format high-definition disc player, capable of playing both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD content.

The unit will be released in the United States in early 2007. Details will be provided at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held January 8–11 in Las Vegas.

LG expects this technological breakthrough to end the confusion and inconvenience of competing high-definition disc formats for both content producers and consumers.

At a news conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, LG said its Super Multi Blu Player would be available in early February in the United States for about $1,200. A computer drive would be available in the first quarter for about the same price.

Here's something interesting...

For HD DVD, a format backed by a group led by Toshiba Corp., LG's machine can play the movies and has a simple menu, but it does not support all the interactive features included on an HD DVD disk.

I wonder if they couldn't license the more advanced features. Without those, Blu-ray and HD DVD are pretty similar.

When the price drops to semi reasonable unless a better cheaper unit comes along soon I'll be all over it. This is a LOT faster then it took for a good cheap high res audio multi format to come out, and both formats have pretty much died now from lack of support from everybody and too much infighting between them.

I'm as excited as the next guy about about dual format player but the price is way to high. For about $1000 you can get a Toshiba HD-A2 ($400) and a Playstation 3 ($600) and have iHD and gaming support to boot.

Anyone else notice that the HD DVD logo is not on the BH100? I guess Microsoft and the DVD Forum won't be able to block them.

Well same reason many players don't claim divx support even though they play it fine, didn't want to shell out for the license. And now they CAN'T sue them for something the box doesn't claim it plays. Weeee! I don't need two more useless game boxes on my all ready full shelf, that's what this PC is for.